Momster

I’m a little late in jumping on the Silhouette bandwagon, which is not surprising for me. I always prefer the second and third generation of a machine, after all the inevitable glitches get worked out. But in this case, better late than never! I finally got a Silhouette CAMEO™, and while I’m not particularly a gadget girl, this machine is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!  Seriously. I’m so in love with it that I’m not even sure where to begin. But I can start by telling you that I think it’s worth every penny.

I’ve tried to embrace die cutting machines in the past. I really have. But it always came down to the same thing – I wanted to create my own designs for cutting, use my own fonts, not be limited to what came on a manufacturer’s (very expensive) cartridge. And with the Silhouette, I finally have that option. But here’s the other stuff.  You can create your own designs, but you don’t have to! You can download designs from Silhouette’s Online Store, and you can purchase each design individually (starting at 99¢ each), which then becomes part of your permanent library. In addition, Silhouette has an incredibly useful blog with tutorials, project ideas, and a free design that they post for your library each week. They’ve also started a Pinterest page for even more inspiration. I spent hours poring over ideas this past weekend – great resource tools!

So what can you do with the CAMEO™?  You can make cards, scrapbook layouts, school projects, and party accessories, craft home decor and custom apparel, even make temporary tattoos (a great alternative to face paint for costumes!). It cuts paper and card stock, adhesive vinyl, fabric, heat transfer materials, and other specialty media, like the tattoo paper and magnetic sheets. It can make templates for rhinestone placement on your designs, and it can even create a sketch for you instead of a cutting. The software is easy to use, the machine makes incredibly precise cuts, and you can cut designs from 1/4-inch to 12-inch wide and an unlimited length. In a word – versatile!

For my very first project with the Silhouette, I decided to use their chalkboard vinyl to make silhouettes of family members. I thought it would be a more interesting way to jot down notes and reminders than putting a notepad on the refrigerator (I think they’d be so cute in a mudroom, placed over coat hooks). With a silhouette of each family member, you can write individual notes on the appropriate board. I started with good profile photos on a white background, then followed the tutorial on Silhouette’s blog. From there, it was a breeze. The machine cut out the silhouettes in less than a minute each, and I applied them to my wall.  Even better, those silhouettes that I created are now part of my permanent library and I can use them again and again, on all different types of media and in all different sizes!

Have I mentioned that I’m in love?

Suzonne Stirling is a professional crafter, wife and mom based in New Orleans. She regularly writes about crafts for FamilyCircle.com, and blogs at Urban Comfort, as well as here on Momster.com.

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